Speaker: Ethan Zohn

Ethan Zohn is the 2002 winner of the reality television show Survivor. With his 1 million dollar prize money, Ethan co-founded Grassroot Soccer, a nonprofit organization that trains professional soccer players to teach African children, a tailor-made SKILLZ curriculum, about HIV/AIDS prevention. Since it’s founding GRS has caught the attention of (and now partners with) Nike, The Gates Foundation, FIFA Futbol for Hope, (RED), Elton John Foundation, Clinton Global Initiative, Barclays English Premier League and DeBeers, and ‘graduated’ over 360,000 youths. By the FIFA World Cup in Brazil in 2014, the organization’s goal is to graduate one million African youths from the program.

In August 2008, Ethan officially launched Grassroot Soccer UNITED an international, youth-led movement to raise money and build awareness for his foundation and mission to end HIV/AIDS in Africa, by embarking on a world-record-breaking 550-mile journey on foot, from Boston, MA, to Washington, D.C. – dribbling a soccer ball the entire route. Ethan is also the national spokesperson for America Scores, an organization that helps inner city kids participate in educational soccer programs.

In May 2010—less than 30 days after his diagnoses with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma was made public on the cover of People Magazine—Ethan was asked to serve as National Ambassador for “Stand Up 2 Cancer” and Lance Armstrong’s LIVESTRONG Foundation. Most recently, Ethan spearheaded the national awareness and fundraising campaign called “Survivors Stands Up 2 Cancer”, a long term alliance between CBS, Survivor and Stand Up To Cancer.

In recognition for his charitable work, Ethan has been awarded the Nkosi Johnson Community Spirit Award by the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care, the Heroes Among Us Award from the Boston Celtics and the Massachusetts State Health Department, and the Auxilia Chimusoro Award from the U.S. State Department in Zimbabwe. In addition, he was awarded The 2007 Peace Abby “Courage of Conscience,” the 2008 A Caring Hand’s “Philanthropic Achievement Award,” and was named one of People Magazine’s “Helpers of the Year”.

Among his many broadcast credits, Ethan’s own television show, Outside Today, on the Outside Television Network premiered in June of 2010. In addition, EarthTripping —profiling eco-friendly travel and adventure around the globe—premiered internationally in 2009. Ethan has also hosted The MSG Soccer Report (Madison Square Garden Network) and F.C. Fox (Fox Soccer Channel), in addition to working as a commentator and soccer analyst for The U.S. Men’s National team at the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan, MLS, USL1, MISL, and ESPN Radio.

Other credits include Survivor: All-Stars, Eco-Challenge Fiji, Fear Factor, Challenger World, guest-host appearances on MTV and VH1, and TV and print campaigns for HP, PUMA and Nike. Ethan was featured in the documentary film A Closer Walk along with The Dalai Lama, Bono and Kofi Annan

Originally from Lexington, MA, Ethan graduated from Vassar College in upstate New York, going on to play professional soccer for Highlanders FC (Zimbabwe), Cape Cod Crusaders (Massachusetts, USA) and Hawaii Tsunami (Hawaii, USA). Ethan also played for the 1997 and 2001 U.S. National Maccabiah squads. In 2003, he was Head Coach of the U.S. National Maccabiah team at the Pan-American Maccabiah Games, in Santiago, Chile.

Ethan is also an aspiring inventor and writer. His EZ Crunchbowl (www.ezcrunchbowl.com) was featured on the Discovery Channel hit Pitch Men with Anthony Sullivan and Billy Mays. Ethan co-wrote Soccer World, a series of six books for young readers to explore the culture, history, science, math and geography of different nations in a compelling and meaningful way, through the sport of soccer.

Top Speaking Topics

Character: The Ultimate Survival Tool

In this keynote, Ethan begins with the question, “What would you do if you won a million dollars?” It’s a thought provoking question that became a reality for the former professional soccer player and coach . After he won $1-million on Survivor Africa, Ethan followed his gut and invested his winnings in something much bigger than himself, a non-profit organization called Grassroot Soccer which promotes HIV and AIDS prevention education to Africa’s youth. It was a decision that perfectly matched his values and character: putting his good fortune to work for a cause greater than himself.

Surviving Cancer

Ethan shares his personal fight with cancer and how he celebrated by running marathons.

Leadership and Teamwork

His love of soccer has translated into life lessons for thousands of youth in Africa, how to work together as a team in sport and in life.